Furniture Arrangement Tips for Small Spaces

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When you are living in a small space, avoiding clutter can be extremely difficult. In fact, almost any furniture item you bring into such a space turns the space into a closed area that can feel uninviting and overcrowded.

So how do you avoid this clutter? How can such a small space, such as an apartment or dorm, feel homier?

It’s all in how you arrange the furniture you do have, and remember the concept “less is more,” as that’s going to be essential to your success in this case. For tips on how to arrange your small space, continue reading below.

1. Less is more

Yes, it is a bit of an overused concept, but it is still accurate, especially in this case. Many times, I have seen individuals move into a new place and bring far too many items, leaving them either very little space or no room whatsoever. When you are dealing with a small space, you have to assume you will be starting off without any room.

In other words, when packing, go light on the furniture items. Wait until you’re in the space, assess what you need and what you have room for, and go from there. I know this is usually easier said than done, as many individuals prefer to move in one trip, but trust me, this is the best way to ensure you have enough room for all your furniture items and that you are only purchasing or renting the necessities.

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2. Focus on items with multiple uses

Purchase items that have multiple uses. For example, if you are unable to mount a TV in your apartment, purchase a stand for it that can be utilized as a book shelf or table as well. This is a “two birds, one stone” kind of thing.

If you need a spare bed for guests, buy a futon rather than a loveseat. If you are able to utilize each piece of furniture in multiple ways, you’ll find really quickly that you have all that you need in very few items of furniture.

3. Don’t overdo it

Many students prefer to overcrowd the walls with posters or other such decorations that can make a room appear smaller. The more you put into the room, even if it is not necessarily using up floor space it can still change the dynamic of the room, which can make you feel overwhelmed when you enter the room.

If you are trying to open the space up, utilize mirrors as décor, and put as little hangings on the wall as necessary, as they can actually take away from the space rather than add to it. Again, this seems like a minuscule detail, but in practice, it is going to open your room up so much more.

4. Utilize storage space

If you have friends over often and need extra chairs, but they are only necessary certain nights of the week, keep folding chairs or other small items packed in a storage space (if available). Some students use hall closets or bedroom closets to hide away these items and ensure there is plenty of room in the main area for seating.

You do not have to have everything out all at once, so whatever you are able to store away for the days that you need it, do so. You can always pull things out and use them when necessary without taking up space.

5. Leave a pathway

If you have to weave through your furniture to get into a room, you’re overcrowding it or not arranging properly. Make sure you leave a pathway through which people can walk to get into the room (you can always move things around as necessary).

Your furniture items should not be sitting on top of each other, and they should not be closing off the room either. For that reason, make sure you have your furniture arranged in a way that is functional but looks inviting as well. You want to open the room up to make it feel bigger, not close it off (as this will ultimately make a small space look smaller).

Living in a small space can feel claustrophobic at times, and it makes your guests feel as if there is no room for them. Even in avoiding packing the room with furniture, the necessary items can still feel too big and bulky for the small space.

These tips should help you navigate around such problems and open up your space to make the room feel bigger than it actually is.

Just because you are given a small space does not mean you have to feel cluttered all the time. Instead, utilize these tips and make the most of the small space that you’re given. I promise it is going to feel much cozier than cluttered.

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Victoria is a dedicated writer who graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She currently writes freelance pieces for various sites and works in Marketing for Myndbee Inc., promoting their current mobile app, Picpal.